OOPS, I did it again!

I know it has taken a while for me to post about the race - things have been so incredibly hectic in my world that this is the first time that I've had a moment to really think and recap the events over the last week or so. My boss was in town last week, which took up the majority of the week -- and then all weekend I was busy so I haven't had a second to myself.

Anyway... so the marathon was AMAZING. I am having a lot of trouble accepting the accomplishment, but as the time passes, I am beginning to realize that it isn't about how FAST you run, but it is about the EXPERIENCE and the MEMORIES that unfold as you do it. I didn't run as fast as I wanted. I didn't run as WELL as I wanted. And I would by lying if in the 72 hours following the marathon that I cried a lot, felt jealous of everyone elses successes and didn't feel as if I accomplished anything. BUT again, as the time passes, and the pictures are posted, I realize that I was smiling (most of the time) and although I did hit the wall, I didn't give up. I didn't stop running. I DIDN'T WALK. Even though I didn't run as fast as I wanted, I DID run the whole time and I have to be proud of what I did do, not what I didn't. I DID it on my OWN. I crossed the finish line with the help of a lot of people -- and as I did that, there was more support then I ever could have imagined. As we climbed up from 26.1 to 26.2, everyone else was finished and Barry and Kristin were waiting there, Chip ran us in and at the end, we had a huge group of our parents, Devin, and a great crew of TNT people just waiting for us to finish.

The end of the race sucked. It blew. I hit the wall at 19 as we crossed over into anacostia. As I have talked to the coaches since the run, they have given me a little running secret - the wall is in your head. I felt GREAT during the first 19, but when I hit that wall, I just didn't want to keep going. I seriously did not talk for the last 7 miles. NOT A FREAKING WORD. (So i guess the lesson here is that if you want me to shut up, make me run 19 miles! :) ) -- I guess I have to learn how to get over it -- but until I do, I have to give an ENORMOUS amount of credit and appreciation to Kristina. She was amazing. There were times that I remember looking at her, and pulling her hand and saying "Kristina, I need you" -- and she never left me. She could have gone on and run ahead, but she stayed with me EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. She did not let me quit and she did not let me stop running. When I was quiet, she kept me moving and motivated. SHE was the strong one and she was my heart when mine wanted to stop. SHE was my rock and I can't being to express how much it means to me.

With all this said, I want to take a second to recognize Kristina - her friendship has meant so much to me over the last five months. I started this journey for so many reasons and the one thing that I never expected to get out of this was someone who is such an amazing friend. They say in your life, that you will take away four or five friends that will be yours for the rest of your life no matter what. I am absolutely proud to add Kristina to that list. Each one of the girls has made a significant impact in my life and been friends with me through so much - and Kristina is one of those people. She is one of the kindest hearts I have ever met -- and even though she may not believe it, she is one of the STRONGEST that I have ever met too. She not only carried ME through five months of training, but she carried me through 26.2 miles. When you run, you train. When you train, you spend time with people - she learned the insides and outs of who I am, what I have been through and how much this has meant to me. She has listened to my tears, my complaints, my stupid jokes and bad music -- and she has helped me become a stronger and better person. She is not only a running partner, but she is freaking fun as crap too - we have so much fun together outside of running, which makes it so special. She really is the reason that itI am FUN SAM! Oh and did I forget to mention... SHE LOVES ROCKY. Seriously I mean, I knew we were going to be friends at "DO IT!"

Anyway, back to the race - I have a lot of fun stories from the race that I will share when I get some pics ... but just to highlight a few here (more details later!):
- We ran the first 13.1 with Michele and I felt like the luckiest person in the world - I had the two people in my life that helped me to this point running with me. I have never felt so supported in my entire life - I truly feel lucky to have people like Michele and Kristina in my life. There was no way in HELL they were going to let me fail.
- We did a cartwheel (you had no idea of my gymnastic skills!) at 17 miles in the 9th Street Tunnel. I will NEVER drive that road again with out thinking of that moment! I mean, really, who does a cartwheel after 17 miles in a tunnel? WE DO!
- We saw a crack bust at 19 - we stopped to pee at the Harbor Police Station and there was nobody in there -- and then a block down the road there were all the police and a dude on the ground handcuffed COPS style. It was awesome!
- We saw Julie and her son (BABY PINK NIKES) at 16-- and it was amazing. I started to cry (Imagine that)
-Seeing my parents and Kristina's parents on the course was amazing. :)
- The TNT Waterstop was AMAZING - I loved seeing all the CMM teammates out there cheering us on! I am going to post another directly after this one with an email that I wrote to Caitlin that explains why I heart TNT!
- The Howard University kids were amazing! They had music and were cheering their asses off!
- The feeling of crossing that finish line is the most amazing feeling in the world. Nothing will ever take that feeling away.

Anyway - I wanted to post a note to let everyone know I finished. More to come later. I am still decompressing from this whole thing... :)

Congratulations to me. Even though I am still trying to believe it, I am proud of myself.

I did it... again.